Automatic gate



t e e h S w e e h S OH We b 0a LG 0 H a m m u A m d o w No. 241,811. Patented May 24,1881.

F INVENTOR WITNESSES A- M W ATTORNEYS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(Model.)

H. W. LUDLOW. Automatic Gate.

No. 241. 1 Patented May 24,1 1-

INVENTOB.

I ATTORNEYS NESSES N PETERS. Phuloljlhognpher. Wnshmglun. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY W. LUDLOW, OF CASSOPOLIS, MICHIGAN.

AUTOMATIC GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,811, dated May 24, 1881.

Application filed March 21, 1881. (Model.)

' To all whom ct may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY W. LUnLow, of Oassopolis, in the county of Cass and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Gates; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawin gs, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in automatic gates, the object of the same being to furnish a cheap, durable, and easily-constructed gate, whichis hung so that it will vibrate vertically-said gate capable of being operated at either side from approaching vehicles without necessitating the stopping and alightin g of the occupants, and adapted, when opened, to be retained in that position as long as desired, thereby allowing vehicles, droves of cattle, 850., to pass through without necessitating the attendance of a person to hold it open.

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be more fully explained, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, of the gate in a closed position. Fig. 2 is a view showing the gate thrown open; and Fig. 3 is a view, showing the manner of hanging the gate and the leverconnect-ions.

My improved gate is composed of horizontal boards A, diagonal braces B, and end pieces, 0 and C. These parts are firmly held together by metallic braces a, placed on the corners of the gate to protect the parts and hold them securely in position.

To the free end of the gate, above and below the end piece, 0, are secured, in any desired manner, rubber bumpers c c, which are so disposed that when the gate is in either an open or closed position the bumpers lie respectively on the sills d and d. These bumpers deaden the noise of the falling gate and prevent it from being broken by rough usagesuch, for instance, as releasing the levers be fore the gate has settled on the sills.

Two uptight posts, 6 c, are firmly secured to the sill cl, leaving a suflicient space between them to receive the free end of the gate when the same is in a closed position. These posts are curved inward from the top to furnish an enlarged opening for the entrance of the gate, and leaving no angles on which the gate could rest should the pivotal bearing become worn, allowing the gate a slight lateral movement.

E E are the gate-posts, which are secured to the sill e, and firmly held in position by the braces b b which are attached to the outer ends of the sill e, and extend upward a sufficient distance on the posts to prevent them from becoming displaced. These posts E E are placed a sufficient distance apart to allow the gate to turn freely without impinging on the connecting-links m m. The gate is secured to these posts at about the center of the end piece, C, by the bolt g, which passes through the end piece and posts, and allows the gate to be swung completely over without allowing the metallic pieces on the corners to strike the ground and retard its free operation. The bolt g may be rigidly secured to the gate-posts and allow the gate to be tilted thereon, or the bolt can be made fast to the gate and have pivotal bearing in the posts E E.

On both sides of the end piece, 0, and inclosing the bolt g, are placed collars or keepers I, which serve to retain the gate equidistant from both posts, and allow of the free operation of the connecting-links m m. Instead of the devices shown in the drawings for accomplishing this function, I may use collars completely surrounding the bolt, and leaving a space between them and the gate. Such collar can either be secured to the gate or the bolt, as one answers the purpose as well as the other; or nuts may be screwed onto the bolt,

or pins made to pass through openings in the bolt; or any construction may be resorted to which will serve to keep the gate in the center between the posts.

Immediately in front of the pivotal bearing of the gate and situated a sufiicient distance therefrom to allow the gate to be lifted from the ground without a great expenditure of power, are secured one end of the connectinglinks at m. These links can be attached to one of the horizontal boards A by a suitable connection, or may be attached to vertical pieces an, placed parallel to the end piece, 0', and secured to the sides of the horizontal boards, said vertical pieces aiding materially in strengthening the gate. The connectinglinks m m then extend obliquely upward, and are attached to the inner end of the operatinglevers H H, which pass through oblong openings A formed in the upper part of the gateposts.

To the upper ends of the gate-posts E E are secured pivotal hearings, in which the levers are secured and have free movement. In the drawings I have shown V-shaped bearings B, having their free ends attached to the upright gate-posts, and adapted at their outer ends to support in pivotal bearing the liftinglevers. Of course, it is apparent that I do not limit myself to this particular form of hearing, as I may resort to almost any form of construc tion which will fulfill the requirements of such bearing.

When the gate is tilted backward so as to open the passage-way, it is received either at one side of the adjoining fence or bet een two upright posts, P P, secured to the sill d, said upright posts being connected to the gate-posts by the diagonal braces 0 0', my object being to form a barrier or complete line of fence when the gate is in a closed position.

To operate the gate, it is only necessary to grasp the pull-rope L, attached to the outer ends of the levers H H, and pull downward. The motion of the pull-ropes L is transmitted from the levers to the connecting-links, and thence to the gate. When the long diameter of the gate is nearly in a vertical position the downward pressure on the pull-rope should be increased, which imparts a greater impetus to the backward-moving gate and throws the center of gravity to the opposite side, when the pull-rope should be allowed to ascend until the rubber bumper c rests on the sill ll.

It will be seen from the above that the operation ofthe gate is not retarded by hea vy snows,

as is the case with gates opening laterally, but is free to operate at all times and under any conditions, and is not as liable to become displaced.

The construction of the gate is such that it can be manufactured at a cost slightly in excess of the gates ordinarily used on country roads, and without the employment of skilled labor, and is a much more desirable gate than those of the ordinary construction.

It is evident that slight changes in the construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, and hence I do not limit myself to the exact construction shown and described; but,

Having fully described my invention, what; I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. Ina vibrating gate, the combination, with a gale pivoted at one end between two posts by a pivot located at or near the longitudinal center of the end piece of the gate, of levers pivoted to the upright posts, or bearings attached thereto, and links connected at their upper ends with the short arms of said levers, and with the pivotal end of the gate at their lower ends, the construction and arrangement of parts being substantially as shown, whereby the gate is rotated through a half-circle, substantially as set forth.

2. In a vibrating gate, thecombination, with two upright posts, of a gate hung between them, a system of levers adapted to open and close the gate, and two posts located to the rear of and adapted to receive the gate between them, and beams connecting the gate and outer posts, as described, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 16th day of" March, 1881.

HENRY W. LUDLOW.

Witnesses:

J AS. H. FARNUM, EDWARD GRAHAM. 

